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Hot Plants: Nature's Proven Sex Boosters for Men and Women By Chris Kilham ( St. Martin's Griffin )
Release Date: 2004-10-10
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List Price: $12.95
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Product Description
In the wake of Viagra's enormous popularity, the international market has been inundated by a blizzard of purported natural sex enhancers. Some of these products are nothing but hype, yet others contain proven agents that enhance libido, improve sexual function, and increase pleasure. These bona fide sex-boosters can be found in Hot Plants.
From the ancient rainforests of Malaysia, to remote mountains in Siberia, medicine hunter Chris Kilham has scoured the globe in search of effective, sex-enhancing plants. Hot Plants, Nature’s Proven Sex Boosters For Men And Women, contains a lively account of those adventurous travels, with valuable information that you can use to boost your sex life.
These natural agents of desire include Tongkat Ali, maca, yohimbe, catuaba, ashwagandha, horny goat weed, zallouh root, Rhodiola rosea, Red ginseng, Siberian ginseng and chocolate. Medicine Hunter Chris Kilham draws upon history, legend and keen research, as he weaves tales of remarkable people, exotic locations, and his extensive investigations into the science and uses of the hot plants. Learn which plants increase libido in both men and women, improve erectile function in men, put more fire into your sex life, and significantly boost your pleasure.
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 Terrible Book - Too Bad There's No "Zero" Star ( themasterhahn )
I am not sure what the other reviewers were reading, but have a hard time believing that it was the same book. While constantly mentioning scientific studies and clinical trials and controlled experiments with these compounds, the author offers very few - if any - actual specific ones! A book like this, making these type of claims, should be filled with references and footnotes to these supposed outstanding studies.
What actually gets quoted primarily are commentaries from herbalists, shamans, and what-have-you who are (as the book clearly indicates) in the business of SELLING these products. Well, of course they are going to make fantastic claims as to their effectiveness. Even his anecdotal evidence is almost always third hand. Not directly from the "horse's mouth", but claims made by these vendors that this person reported this benefit and this person reported that benefit, etc.
The fact is that MOST truely scientific studies of these plants have shown them to work minimally - if at all... and generally what degree that they do work is in the realm of assisting with ED (like Yohimbe - if you can handle the side effects) or increasing libido (more likely through reactions with brain transmitters, dopamine, etc., rather than any effects on actual hormone production).
According to Dr. Ray Sahelian, he notes that for tongkat ali (as just one example), that "over the past few years, there have been quite a number of studies (particularly in rodents) that have tested tongkat ali in relation to sexual effects, with positive results. Here's a detailed discussion of one of them. The effects of tongkat ali were studied on the libido of male rats after dosing them with up to 800 mg per kilogram of body weight twice daily for 10 days (this is quite a high dose if the same dose is given to humans -- do the math: 800 mg tongkat ali powder times 70 k). Results showed that tongkat ali produced a dose-dependent increase in mounting frequency; that is, the number of times the male rats tried to mount the female rats increased as the dose given to the rats increased. In addition, the rats given tongkat ali displayed more frequent and vigorous licking and anogenital sniffing towards the receptive females. Furthermore, the rats dosed with tongkat ali spent more time grooming their genitals compared to the rats who were not given the plant." (Wow.. what a test!). Why no human tests? Whether or not it actually ibncreases testosterone levels in humans (in a double-blind, controlled, scientifi study) would be extremely easy and not that expensive. It hasn't been done because personal tests hjave shown anything from no increase to extremely minor increases in testosterone... and then only in extremely high doses!This good doctor goes on to state that "I have read articles in health magazines promoting tongkat ali that it has wonderful benefits with absolutely no side effects. This has not been my personal or professional experience. Even though tongkat ali is potent as an herbal aphrodisiac, it does have shortcomings. One of the side effects of a high dose of tongkat ali is insomnia." Also - as with Maca - what "testing" is done is being done by local authorities (Indonesia or Peru or wherever applies... like the one tongkat ali "study" that was done on rats by the School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University Science Malaysia, Minden, Penang, Malaysia... and it found that elderly rats consuming these ultra high doses of tongkat ali commented that "The aphrodisiac effect was monitored by the act of yawning and stretching because yawning, either alone or associated with stretching, is considered an ancestral vestige surviving throughout evolution that promotes sexual arousal. The results showed that 800 mg/kg of tongkat ali increased yawning by 50% and stretching by 16% in sexually sluggish old male rats"... you're kidding me, right?... these are simply government projects where the goal is to convince consumers that this stuff works and generate a valuable cash crop.
In the 50s or 60s, the Communist Bulgarian government came out with published studies that showed the extreme effectiveness of Tribulus terrestris as a significant aid to increase testosterone production. Bodybuilders were (and many still do) buying it by the ton. Of course the primary source of Tribulus was Bulgaria - especially the really good stuff. Years later - after the collapse of the Soviet Empire, the Bulgarians admitted that they faked the studies - simply to create this cash crop for international marketing. Here's what a study done in 200 showed:
"The effects of Tribulus terrestris on body composition and exercise performance in resistance-trained males. Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab. 2000 Jun;10(2):208-15.xtract
The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of the herbal preparation Tribulus terrestris (tribulus) on body composition and exercise performance in resistance-trained males. Fifteen subjects were randomly assigned to a placebo or tribulus (3.21 mg per kg body weight daily) group. Body weight, body composition, maximal strength, dietary intake, and mood states were determined before and after an 8-week exercise (periodized resistance training) and supplementation period. There were no changes in body weight, percentage fat, total body water, dietary intake, or mood states in either group. Muscle endurance (determined by the maximal number of repetitions at 100-200% of body weight) increased for the bench and leg press exercises in the placebo group (p <.05; bench press +/-28.4%, leg press +/-28.6%), while the tribulus terrestris group experienced an increase in leg press strength only . Supplementation with tribulus does not enhance body composition or exercise performance in resistance-trained males." Why they didn't perform simple blood tests to show testosterone levels is beyond me... but obviously if Tribulus was raising testosterone levels there would have been serious increases in strength levels. Probably why the author chose to leave Tribulus out of his list! They had already revealed it as a fraud. A good site that is herbal oriented, but doesn't pull any punches about testings (and lack thereof) is at rain-tree.com... Go there and check out Maca for example.
Speaking of Maca (one of the author's "stars"), Dr. Sahelian noted in one test, that "Serum testosterone and estradiol levels were not different in men treated with maca than in those treated with placebo..." and again in another test "Serum luteinizing hormone, follicle stimulating hormone, prolactin, testosterone and estradiol levels were measured before and after treatment... Serum hormone levels were not altered..." He also had individual users report (as quoted by one specific user: "However I found that I had greater difficulty in achieving strong and hard erections for some reason. This really surprised me given that maca herb is supposed to do the opposite and increase the potency of erections and libido. On this count however it was actually worse than before, there was greater time and stimulation needed to achieve firmness and it was not as potent an erection as usual. I also found it more difficult to become erect again after a first ejaculation..."
On top of a lack of serious references to serious medical trials, the book primarily reads more like the author's travel guide to various regions where he then seeks out vendors and local healers and shamans, etc. of those areas to get quotes from them about how great their product is!
Some of these products are legitimate positive herbs as adaptogens and in situations where bodily dysfunctions of a minor nature can be turned around by the effect of the adaptogen will of course result in better sex activity.
I am more than willing to be made a believer... but not from third hand anecdotal evidence. Let's see some legitimate, unbiased scientific studies that are measuring hormone levels, neurotransmitter levels, etc. I would like to see the author do a CLINICAL follow-up to this book that instead of a travel guide would be an in-depth book of the human studies that his organization did with all of these samples that were obtained while out "globe-trotting"!
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 Basic information -- nothing really insightful ( adamsrick )
This book provides more details about Mr Kilham's travels than about the use of herbs. The book provides very basic inforamtion about the herbs that is easy to find for free on the web
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 An Excellent Resource ( abyssquick )
This is perhaps my favorite herbal specialty book. The subject matter is uniquely interesting, but it is the firsthand, adventurous approach to writing that makes this book very enjoyable. It is a written travel documentary, fortified with lush descriptions, interesting observations and factoids, scientific research and great overall storytelling.
Perhaps what is most valuable amongst the handful of plant species he chooses to delve into is Tongkat Ali. There seems to be very little information generally available on this plant, despite the fact that a number of it's products are already beginning to appear on the herbal supplement market. This book has a lot of detail about this wonderful tree's native history, traditional and modern uses. It provides a comprehensive understanding of what the tree is, what it does, how it works in the human body. This is rather important information for anyone interested in using Tongkat Ali. I would grant two stars for this information on Tongkat Ali alone.
Rhodiola Rosea is another particularlarly intriguing point. What is interesting is how most of the herbs described by the author are known to have multiple uses. I was most familiar with rhodiola rosea as an adaptogen and mental activity enhancer. I did not know that it was also widely used as an aphrodisiac, or that it was commonly extracted by tincture in it's native land. It is this way thoughout the book, even with plants one might be familiar with. There is a lot of great, important information about these featured herbs.
Information about some of the herbs, such as maca, catuaba, and ashwaghanda, were also part of his last book, "Tales from the Medicine Trail." Some of the same information is here, though it is written or presented with slight differences. The herb Muirapuama is, for some reason, absent in Hot Plants. In "Tales from the Medicine Trail" it was considered to work wonders as an aphrodisiac when combined with catuaba. We now find catuaba alone, but apparrently just as effective. The author could perhaps elaborate upon this omission a little, for those who do like to follow his work.
The only place where the book might perhaps be improved by more detail is with the last section about chocolate. The author researches the candy form with which we are all familiar- a cooked, processed chocolate. This preparation is not the only traditional use of this plant, nor is it the most potent aphrodisiac form. He unfortunately does not get into the healthier raw chocolates (cacao nibs), which are more renowned for their libido-enancing effects, and are also a more natural form of the plant. Cooking the cacao destroys much of what is inerent in the seed medicinally, including a large percentage of inherent theobromine, the principal love mood-enhancer the author describes. Raw cacao also has other important medicinal and nutritional benefits.
Absent entirely of it's own section is the rather widley available herb Daimana, which is a very effective aphrodisiac plant. It is not really elaborated upon in this book, but I feel it definately belongs in there, especially if chocolate is to be included. The herb was traditionally combined with chocolate in the rich, spicy drinks that the Moctezuma imbibed daily, granting him his legendary libido.
Even though more Hot Plants exist than are described in this book, Chris Kilham has done a great job with the ones upon which he has chosen to feature, and expand his research. A fantastic job, in fact. I strongly recommend this to anyone with the interest in herbal medicine.
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A good resource book for lovers of hot plants ( swamy-reviews )
Hot Plants is Chris Kilham's account of exploration of plants, which help men and women lead better sex lives and thus enjoy better health. The author is a medicine hunter, author and educator and is the Explorer in Residence at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, where he teaches ethnobotany. He has written a dozen books, four of which are listed in side the book.
In this particular book, Chris explores about 10 medicinal plants including some like Aswagandha, Yohimbe and Ginseng, which have been well known all over the world and a few lesser known (to me atleast). He describes for each plant, the active part, the location, the scientific studies conducted if any and the views of the traditional doctors, herbalists and the users. He has tried almost all of them himself and thus what he writes can certainly be taken as authentic. He also gives the side effects for some of the plants where applicable. He finishes the book with a very engaging account of the benefits of chocolate, not from the erotic angle but from the angle of love and bonding.
His writing style is engaging and the accounts of his wide ranging travels and his experiences with people of various civilizations makes the book an interesting read.
He got a few Indian names wrong (he refers to Dr.Prabhakaran as Dr.Prabakhan and Vata as Vatta), which I hope he will correct in future editions. His perception of the Hindu Gods Krishna and Siva may offend orthodox Hindus and fundamentalists. The conversion of temperatures by the author from Centigrade (Celsius) scale to Fahrenheit scale is approximate at some places. The special feature of -40 degrees in the temperature scale (that -40 F and -40 C are exactly equal) does not come through in the book.
The book would have been certainly more valuable if a few photographs of the plants were included. The author's recommendations at the end will be certainly useful to those who would like to try out these plants as a good substitute for Viagra and Cialis etc.
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 Great resource, fun read ( eclectictasteguy )
In this lively, engaging read, UMASS ethnobotanist Kilham takes us around the globe from Malaysia to Peru as he reviews the history, folk use, and scientific research behind several herbs with strong tradtitions/reputations. I know two post-menopausal women who experienced a dramatic restoration of libido after taking the Hot Plants for Women formula (from Enzymatic Therapy) based on the book.
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Addiction
